Sunday, October 17, 2010

DIY Beginners Anthropologie-inspired Ruffled Scarf

Okay my beginner sewers, or those of you who just don't sew often, this is a GREAT project for you.

You can make one for yourself or this would make an excellent Holiday gift.

My good friend Laura (the photographer) was visiting this weekend and we made this scarf together. This Anthropologie Scarf was our inspiration.

Wouldn't you like to make one too?

Here is what you will need:

1 1/2 yards of fabric

Scissors

Sewing Machine/Thread

Yard Stick

Elastic Thread - don't be scared of this it is EASY to use!!

(you will put it on the bobbin)

Water soluble pen

Step 1: Fold your fabric selvage to selvage and lay it out flat

(usually they fold it like that when they cut it at the store).

Using a pair of fabric scissors, split the fabric along the fold.

You will have two pieces of fabric about 22" x 54".

Step 2: Sew these two pieces end to end, so that you have one really long piece 22" x 108".

Step 3: Right sides together, (the seam you just sewed should be showing)

fold this piece in half and pin along the edge - it will now be 11" x 108".

Step 4: Sew a 1/2" seam along the top 11" edge, and the 108" inch side - leave the bottom open.

Step 5: Flip the scarf right side out and press it.

Step 6: When you get to the bottom edge, fold the raw edges inside, press, and top stitch it closed.

Now the fun part!

Step 7: Draw two lines with the water-soluble fabric pen.

Your scarf should be 10 1/2" wide at this point -

so you will measure 2 3/4" inches in from each edge.

Mark your measurements then connect them with a straight line.

Step 8: Using your machine, put the elastic thread onto the bobbin.

Don't be afraid of this - it will wind around the bobbin as usual.

Put it in your machine, then thread your machine with regular thread that matches your fabric.

Step 9: Sew along the two straight lines that you drew.

The elastic bobbin thread will gather the fabric as you go.

Step 10: To make the elastic thread shrink (making it more gathered) spritz the two seams with water. Toss it in your dryer for about 5 minutes - the elastic will shrink up a bit and you will have a beautiful ruffled scarf!

You will be happy - like Laura.

Isn't she a lovely model?

Thanks for making a scarf with me Laura - and for taking some great pics for this tutorial!

If you are working on one of my projects and get stuck, leave a comment or send me an email - I am happy to help you with any troubleshooting!

42 comments:

We used a medium weight cotton. I am thinking of making one out of AM fabric soon - so that's a light-weight cotton. It just needs to be a fabric that will gather well - so i would stay away from heavier fabrics. Glad you like it :)

Beautiful! Thought for those who haven't done elastic thread before, has FAB instructions for learning how to work with elastic thread. I just learned the technique....LOVE it.... Have already ran out of a spool! I will be making this for a mother in law who has everything, simply perfect! Maybe with silk? Thanks for sharing!

Okay, so for elastic thread - It says on the package to wind it on the boddin by hand. Is that how you do it? Or do you machine-wind it? I tried to use it on a practice cloth after I wound it by hand and it really didn't gather much. Do I have to pull it tight on the bobbin? Do I leave it loose? How do I keep it from springing back on the bobbin? Please give me some advice...

Chrisa - I wind it on the machine - just like regular thread. It works fine. I'm not sure why they say to wind it by hand b/c I don't think that would produce enough tension. After you sew it, it will look gathery, but it really gathers more when you spray it with water and dry it. If you use a fabric like wool, you could maybe spritz the fabric and just dry the thread with a hair dryer - either way it will make the thread shrink up a bit and gather more. Hope that helps!

I made mine last night and the fabric did not scrunch at all...I wrapped the bobbin by hand like the package stated to do - is this where I went wrong or should I have not used the straight stitch? Thanks

BEth,I DO NOT wind it by hand - I don't think you get enough tension that way. I wind it by machine, just like regular thread. Then using regular thread on top, I use a basic stitch. After you sew it though, be sure to spray it with water and dry it in the hot dryer - this will make the thread shrink more.

Beth - I was actually doing a project this morning with elastic thread and I hand wound it - it did NOT work. So I ripped it out and wound it on the machine, then sewed it again and it worked fine - so I'm hoping it works for you too!

oh I bet the crushed velvet is lovely - I do think the elastic thread can be a bit finicky, I would try sewing the part that didn't gather again and loosely guide the fabric through. I think sometimes if we hold onto the fabric it doesn't quite work. Give it a try and let me know - I will see if I can come up with any other solutions

I saw several of these at Anthropologie on sale, but they were still really expensive. I knew I could make one myself. With a little poking around the internet I found your tutorial. With your help I know it will come out great. Thanks for sharing.

Hi everyone! Love this project and have used elastic thread before to make shirred tops for my daughter's sundresses. I wind it on the bobbin like regular thread, however I have noticed that the more stretchy rubber in the thread the better it will cinch the material. I use the ratio of 28% Polyester/72% Rubber. I have used one that was 50/50 or less rubber and it did not do well for me. Hope this helps other sewers.

When I come to the end of a stitch with the elastic thread, I backstitch and cut the thread...The backstitch must not hold the elastic thread in place. Before I know it, the elastic has unraveled from the entire stitch and I have to start at the beginning again. HELP!

Oh so sorry you're having trouble! If the elastic thread was on the bobbin, and regular thread was in the needle - it shouldn't unravel.Email me with a little more info, and I'll see if I can help more!sewhomegrown@hotmail.com

I'm on my way out the door to buy elastic thread right now! Always wanted to use it, but never knew how. Your tutorial is the BEST! I've wanted scarves like this for ages and knew they had to be somewhat straight forward to make. Many thanks for your help:-)debby

Love the idea. I just made one, but it did not turn out. I wound the elastic thread in the bobbin on the machine. Any tips on the tension. I've tried to play with the tension but it doesn't seem to be working. I can't get the sewing machine to scrunch the scarve at all, and putting it in the dryer didn't help.

okay, if the elastic thread is giving you too much trouble, buy some 1/8" elastic. Sew it along the line you drew(using regular thread and bobbin) - pulling the elastic tight as you sew. This should make it gather. good luck, and if you need more help - email me :)

I absolutely love this scarf. Thanks for taking the time to share a tutorial! Visiting from FT! I would love for you to link up to my fashion linky party. It's called DIY Diva Thursdays and we party Th-M every week :)

Great tutorial, I think I'll try to find a pretty rayon fabric for this. I am also going to try a pretty metallic thread for the top thread (must use a top stitch or metallic needle). Will report back if this is a disaster :-)

Thanks so much for commenting! If you have a question, make sure your email is in your profile or leave it in a comment so I can answer you. Otherwise email me at jessica(at)sewhomegrown(dot)com - Have a lovely day!

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Hey! We're Jessica and Ryan. We've lived around the world, and now own Starry Fields Farm in Kentucky. We hope you'll be inspired by our family's life here - remodeling, farming, sewing, and much more!